ERICA + TYSON by It’s Beautiful Here

I’m Erica, I’m an IT consultant and Tyson is a logistics manager. We’re quite career driven and love where we work. It’s been enjoyable to see each other grow at work, and to experience it together is really special.

We get really excited when each other is doing well and kicking goals, like the little team we are. We love all things magical, especially Harry Potter, however, we would like to state that we’re not supportive of JK currently and her recent online commentary around the LGBTQIA+ community.

We are fundamentally best friends, who love nothing more than to spend time together doing anything. This could be from walking around our friendly inner-city neighbourhood to snuggling on the couch binge-watching TV – Avatar and Rupaul’s Drag Race are our go-to.

We love our friends and family and making memories with them brings us eternal happiness. Is there anything better than a pub day with mates?

We met on Tinder, so I guess that makes our story a modern love story. It’s kind of crazy to think we wouldn’t have met had it not been for that little app.

Our first date was to a footy game, we’re both Hawthorn supporters thankfully, and this hasn’t really changed. If there’s a Melbourne home game, you can find us in the stands cheering on our team and just chatting about anything under the sun.

COVID has put a bit of a halt on our travel plans, but we’re looking forward to exploring the world when it’s safer for us all to do so.

Tell us about your special day, was there a specific theme or style? Tell us a little about the setting, the styling and some of your favourite details:

We wanted to have a relaxing day, steering away from the traditional sit-down style. As such, we had a standing wedding with strategic couches popped around the warehouse. We had pizza and burger food trucks outside, and a cocktail menu inside.

We also had the most amazing grazing table setup in the centre of the room. We consciously chose this as we have so many happy memories of long nights with friends, chatting over a cheese board, a few glasses of wine and a boardgame.

I wore a two-piece dress, another deviation from traditional and Tyson wore cons. Comfort and remaining true to ourselves was a priority and looking back on our photos, I really think we nailed this. We also wanted an inner-city location, accessible by public transport so that our guests could get home safely without the pressure of organising a cab in a remote location late at night.

We also chose large floral decorations to be hung from the ceiling. We wanted to make the room cosy, and this went a long way into doing this. We were also married in front of a hand-made arbour,  made by Tyson’s best woman Beth #bethbuilds. This arbour has since been deconstructed and is now converted into a bar bench on our apartment balcony. This is pretty cool as we continue to have friends around, making memories on the very furniture we had on our wedding day!

Another way we have preserved the day is through the preservation of our wedding flowers. We’ve had these converted into resin art, which now hangs from our apartment wall #rholtsu. The night was magical. It warms my heart to remember everyone’s smiling faces and I hope the love that Tyson and I share encircled everyone that night.

Tell us about your main outfits:

I wore a handmade skirt and top made by one of my mum’s former work colleagues. It was finished the night before, so there were some anxious moments – nothing a few glasses of champagne couldn’t fix. Tyson wore Jack London and Converse shoes. As his best ‘man’ was Beth, she wore some slacks cut for her shape so she could also be comfy on the night. I also wore Converses, I’m not great in heels and I do not regret this decision in the slightest!

What were some of the most memorable/unique moments from the day:

Having all of my cousins together for the first time in years. Having this captured in photos brings so much joy to us! I’m my parents only child, so having them both walk me down the aisle is always a really special recollection. Tyson always talks about his ‘walk down the aisle’. We arrived a smidge late, fashionably of course, and he always talks about how that walk for him was really special, getting to look into the faces of those we love most.

If we were to boil it down, the most memorable moment is a feeling, happiness. We felt so happy, surrounded by love, celebrating with our nearest and dearest.

Any advice for other couples planning to spend the rest of their lives together:

Make sure that you can laugh every day, take pleasure in the smallest of moments and support each other to reach your fullest potentials. You will be infallible together.

Ceremony + Reception: Two Ton Max | Photographer: It’s Beautiful Here | Celebrant: Lynn Moresi | Styling: One Big Day Event Hire | Photobooth: Heartbreak Booth | Letterboards: Alpha Board Co. | Neon Sign: Electric Confetti | Flora: Pomp and Splendour | Catering + Beverages: Firecracker Events, Sliders on Tyres, and Pizza Wagon | Cake + Favours: Miss Ladybird Cakes | Gelato Cart: Bianco Latte | Favours: Rushmore Coffee | Erica’s Top and Skirt: Mathieu Salem | Tyson: Jack London | Shoes: Both wore Converse | Rings: Ani Jewellery via Glenferrie Road Malvern | Makeup: Nicole Kene | Eyebrows: HÜD Skin and Body | Erica’s Hair: Beau Jenkins | Tyson’s Hair: Lighthouse Barbers | Bridesmaid’s skirts: Revelry | Bridesmaid’s t-shirts: AS Colour